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1. It was towards the end of 1947 when the Government of the United Kingdom made known the fact that at this year's British Industries Fair, there would be an Empire Section and Hong Kong was asked if it wished to participate. The offer was immediately accepted and arrangements made to contact local parties who would be interested in exhibiting at the British Industries Fair.
A small Committee was formed consisting of Mr. Owen Hughes representing the Chamber of Commerce, Mr. F. Courtney of the Department of Supplies, Trade and Industry, Mr. U. Tat Chee, Mr. Sham Choi Wah, Mr. Lo Heung Hoi, and Mr. Robert Der representing the Chinese Manufacturers' Union. Mr. E. Himsworth, Superintend- ent of Imports and Exports, was asked to be Chairman of the Committee and to represent Government, while Mr. J. W. Ferris of the Imports and Exports Department undertook the duties of Secretary. At an early stage, it was realised that the Com- mittee could be strengthened by the addition of someone with knowledge of Home Side conditions, and Mr. W. P. Montgomery, the United Kingdom Trade Commissioner, was asked to join. His contacts with the Board of Trade in England have been most helpful and his wide experience has been of real value to the Committee in arranging this Exhibition.
2. The first object of the Committee was to induce local merchants to exhibit on the Hong Kong stall. The response was not widespread. Hong Kong merchants had little experience of Exhibitions and felt that the typical Imports and Exports firm had little opportunity of advertising itself on an Exhibition Stall. The Chinese Manufacturers' Union, however, was enthusiastic and a very large proportion of the exhibits was eventually supplied by members of that Association. One or two leading firms in the Colony were approached and added to the number of Exhibitors.
It was unfortunate that shipping difficulties considerably limited the time at the Committee's disposal. The last boat out of Hong Kong by which the Committee could be sure the exhibits would reach London in time was the s.s. "Canton", which left Hong Kong on the 23rd February, almost ten weeks before the Exhibition opened. All the exhibits had to be ready for despatch on this early date, which severely limited the number of exhibits for many merchant houses would have sent their contributions to the Fair, if they had had more time in which to prepare their exhibits.
The Chinese Manufacturers' Union also sent an official representative to the Fair while five other members decided to take the opportunity of paying their first visit to London. Four of these members left via the United States of America at the beginning of March, and the remainder went by air with Mr. Courtney, in the middle of April.
3.
The exhibits sent to London were a fair representation of the goods manu- factured in Hong Kong.
The Chinese Manufacturers' Union exhibited the following products on behalf of their members:
Articles of Apparel and Piecegoods (Weaving and Knitting) Hats
Rubber goods
Foodstuffs (condiments and relishes)
Canning
Preserved ginger
Tobacco
Articles of daily use: Enamelwares
Thermos flasks
Torches
Soap
Metal
Paint.